Circuit-controlling device



July 3, 1928.

A. R. LEWELLEN CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Original Filed June 14, 1923 Original application filed June 14, 1923,

Patented July 3, 1928.

ALBERT R. LEWELLEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,

PORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A

1,675,614 NT OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL MOTORS JOR- CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PATE

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

This invention relates to circuit controllin devices and is illustrated as embodied in a horn buttonor switch for an automobile which-1s arranged to be carried by the steer ing wheel. An object of the invention is to provide such a switch which will not be affected by the angular positions of the steer ing wheel and which will have a minimum number of parts project-ing above the plane of the steering wheel.

7 From this point of view the invention may be regarded as comprising a contact member which extends through the steering wheel, as, for example, at its hub, on opposite sides of the steering post to which the wheel is attached. This contact member is movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the steering wheel into engagement with the stationary contact member supported below the steering wheel. In order that the closing of the circuit shall not be dependent on any particular angular position of the steer: ing wheel the stationary contact member is in annular form, and surrounds but is spaced from the steering post. In the form shown in the drawings this annular contact member is secured to but insulated from the usual sleeve which surrounds and protects.

the steering post. c

Other objects and features of the invention, including novel combinations of parts and desirable particular constructions, will be apparent from the following description 1 of three illustrative embodiments of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: 1

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a steering post assembly embodying the novel controlling device; 3

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the contact parts of the device separately from the'rest, of the steering post assembly;

Figure 3 is a. perspective view of a modified form of contact device;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view correspondingto the upper part of Figure land showing the mounting of the contact device of Figure 3.

In the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the steering post assembly comprises a rotatable steering post 10 tapered at its upper end i and fastened in the hub 12 of a-steering Wheel having spokes 14 carrying arim of Serial No. 645,325. Divided and this application filed March 7. 1925. Serial No. 13,765.

any suitable type. post 10 is protected ing sleeve 16.

The novel controlling device is shown as embodied in a horn button having a depressible cap 18 flared outwardly near its lower end to fit within a housing 20 secured to the hub 12 by means of tap screws 22 or in any other suitable manner, the housing servmg to limit outward movement of the cap 18 under the, influence of a spring 24. The spring 24 engages a disc or head 26 o tsuch a size as to fit within the cap 18 to push the cap outward as far as permitted by the housing 20, and tocbe operated inwardly to compress the spring by depression of the cap 18. The disc 26 is notched at opposite sides to receive a U- shaped contact member 28, which has legs sliding in grooves or holes formed in the hub 12 of the steering wheel and a cross portion which is clamped by the spring 24 between the disc 26 and the flared portion of the cap 18 as will be apparent from Figure 1. The lower ends of the legs of the contact member 28 are, in their idle position, spaced slightly above an annular contact member 30 stationarily fastened to the sleeve 16 by means The rotatable shaft or by a stationary encl0sof screws 32.. The annular contact member 30 is insulated from the sleeve 16 and from the other metal parts of the steering post assembly, there being a large insulating washer 34 serving as an enlarged head for each screw 32 and two or more smaller insulating washers 36 which insulate each screw 32 from the sleeve 16 and which serve to space the annular member 80 from the sleeve. The steering post 10 passes through a central hole 38 of such a diameter that the post does not engage the cont-act member. The contact member 30 is connected to the circuit of any desired electricallycontr0lled device, such as a signalling horn, by an insulated conductor 40 having an end portion clamped under one of the screws 32, which screw thus serves as a binding post to form an electric connection between the contact member 30 and the-conductor 40.

.Itwill be observed that in the illustrated arrangement the contact member 28 serves as a ground, as it is not insulated from the hub of the steering wheel, or from the steering post 10 or the sleeve 16, both of which are in electrical connection with the hub.

the flared portion of Thus depression of thecap 18 serves to-bring thecontaot members 28 and 39 together to close the circuit from the conductor L0 to the ground provided by the metal parts of the steeringfpostassembly '7 I 7 In the modification shown in Figures 3 and 4, in lieu of the housing 20, the cap .50 which corresponds to cap 18 is centrally perforated'ito be slidable on a retaining screw 52 arranged axially of a spring 54 which corresponds to spring 24i. In this modification the contacte'member 56 which corre sponds to the member 28 is bentup'on itself at its central portion to form ahead seat ing against the'ca'p 50 which takes the place oft-he disc 26. This head is formed in such a manner as to leave a central opening 58 through which the screw 52 and the retain.

automobile steering column, except where so specified in particular claims.

This present application is. a division of myapplication for'patent for circuit controlling devices filed .on June 14, 1923, Serial o.- 532 I Y V I claim:

1. A' controlling device 7 comprising, in

combination, a rotatable steering post, a

steering wheel secured to the upper end thereof, a stationary protecting sleeve sur.

rounding the steering post, an "annular contact member secured to the protect ng sleeve of its inner' side and below its upper end, and

which member surroundsand is spaced from the steering post, and a circuit closing device including cooperating contact member eccentrically mounted in the steering wheel and displaceab'le in a direction parallel to the axis of the steering post to cause its lower elifil to engage directly with different parts of the annular contact member.

2 A' controlling device comprising, 1n

combination, a steering post, a steering wheel secured to the upper end of the steer-' ing post, a protecting sleeve surrounding the steering post, an annular contact member carried by the sleeve, and a circuit closing device including a member which is carried by the steering wheel and which has a pair of legs straddling "the upper end'ot the steering post and which is axially movable to bring the legs into engagement with dif-.

ferent parts of the annular contact member. 3.A controlling devlce comprising, in

combination, a steering wheel, a contact member stat-ionari'ly supported b l th steering wheel, and a second contact member mounted in and rotatable with the steering'wl-ieel and which has a pair of legs extending through the steering-wheel on opposite sides of its axis and which is axially movable to engage different parts or the stationary con-tactmember.

=4. A controlling device comprising, in combination, a steering wheel an annular contact member stationar-ily supported besupported'by and rotatable with the steering wheel and which has legs extending through the steering wheel, on opposite sides of its axis and which are connected bya cross pervtion, and a depressible cap engaging the cross portion for forcing the legs'int'o engagement with'd-iilerent partsiof the 'an-- nular contact member, to close the circuit 5, A controlling device comprising, in combinationfa steering wheel, an annular contact member supported below the steering wheel, a contact member carried by and rotatable with the steering wheel and which has 'a pair of legs passing through the steering'w-heel on opposite sides of its axis and a cross portion connecting t-he upper ends of the legs, a; cap engaging the cross portion and depressible to force the legs against dillerent partsof the annular contact memher to close the circuit, and a spring engaging the cap and urging the 'cap'a-nd contact member axially of the steering wheel in a direction to open the circuit. a 69A controlling device comprising, in

combinationyasteering wheel, anani1ular contact member supported below the steerlng wheel, a movable contact member-carr ed by androtatable with the steering wheel and g portion of said contact member and depres low the'steering wheel, a' con-tact nember sible to force, the legs against the annular contact member, a disc engaging thelcross port on and the cap, and .a spring acting on the disc to urge the contact memberand the cap in a direction to open the circuit.

7. A circuit closing switch comprising,in combination, a stationarily supported annular contact member, a'movab'leU-shaped contact member having its legs arranged eccentrically and upon opposites Idesof, and in the same plane as the axis of the annular member and which is rotatable about said axis, means'for moving said movable member in a direction parallel to the axis to' force the free ends of the legs against the annular contactrnember regardless'ot their relative angular positions, and a spring for urging the U-shaped member in the oppo site direction to open the circuit. 1 r 

